[Hiring] Vice President of Programs, Climate & Biodiversity @NRG Consulting Group

Role Description

We are looking for a strategic leader that can help Friends of the Earth level-up our Climate and Biodiversity campaigning. We are seeking a candidate that wants to challenge the status quo, develop short and long-term campaigns that help challenge and change the systems of destruction that impact people, climate and biodiversity, and are eagerly willing to gather the resources and people power necessary to make it happen.

The Vice President of Programs, Climate & Biodiversity is a senior organizational leader and a key strategic partner to the President, responsible for advancing Friends of the Earth's Climate & Biodiversity portfolio and helping shape the organization's strategy. This role provides leadership for program strategy, fundraising, resource allocation, and campaign execution across climate policy, fossil fuel phaseout, biodiversity protection, and global environmental and economic governance, and maritime transport, ensuring programs are impactful, well-resourced, and aligned with organizational priorities.

As one of two Vice Presidents leading the Programs Division, this role works closely with the Vice President of Programs, Food & Agriculture, to foster a cohesive, collaborative, and high-performing division. Together, the Vice Presidents are responsible for aligning program priorities, identifying opportunities for cross-program collaboration, strengthening organizational effectiveness, and ensuring programmatic and fundraising strategies advance shared organizational goals.

The Vice President serves as a strategic leader, fundraiser, relationship builder, and organizational steward, translating vision into measurable impact while strengthening partnerships, supporting cross-functional collaboration, and elevating Friends of the Earth's influence and effectiveness in advancing its mission.

Qualifications

• Progressively responsible experience in program leadership, advocacy, campaigning, public policy, nonprofit leadership, or related fields.
• Senior leadership experience managing leaders, complex programs, budgets, and organizational priorities.
• Demonstrated experience developing and leading high-impact programmatic, advocacy, or campaign strategies that drive measurable outcomes.
• Experience securing and stewarding significant philanthropic funding, including cultivating donor relationships and contributing to fundraising strategy.
• Knowledge of climate policy, biodiversity conservation, fossil fuel phaseout, environmental governance, environmental advocacy, or related issue areas.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across teams, functions, and stakeholder groups to advance shared goals and organizational alignment.
• Experience leading, developing, and supporting high-performing and inclusive teams, including remote or geographically distributed staff.
• Strong organizational, strategic planning, and project management skills, with the ability to oversee multiple priorities and complex initiatives.
• Demonstrated success partnering with peer leaders to align priorities, share accountability, and lead across organizational boundaries.
• Skilled in written and verbal communication, including presenting to diverse audiences, representing organizations externally, and building effective relationships with partners and stakeholders.
• Commitment to environmental and social justice, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, global solidarity, and international collaboration.
• Willingness to travel internationally to meet with partners and funders as needed.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Requirements

• Set strategic direction and priorities for the Climate & Biodiversity portfolio, including climate policy, fossil fuel phaseout, biodiversity protection, and global environmental and economic governance.
• Guide Program Directors and senior leaders in developing ambitious, innovative, and fundable campaign and advocacy strategies that advance organizational goals.
• Ensure programs are strategically aligned, effectively executed, and deliver measurable impact while advancing equity-centered approaches and long-term systems change.
• Assess emerging opportunities, risks, and external developments and adjust portfolio priorities, resources, and strategies accordingly.
• Promote coordination and collaboration across program areas to maximize organizational impact and strengthen connections between climate, biodiversity, food systems, and economic justice initiatives.

Benefits

• 37.5-hour work week to support work-life balance
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage (80% for eligible dependents)
• Disability and life insurance for added security
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for healthcare and dependent care
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Generous paid time off, including:
• 25 vacation days to start
• 15 paid holidays
• 20 sick days
• 3 floating holidays
• Summer Fridays (the last two Fridays in July and all Fridays in August)
• Winter break (office closed between December 24 - January 1)
• Parental leave, sabbatical options, and more
• Professional development and IT stipend
• Education reimbursement and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Company Description

Friends of the Earth is a hard-hitting, progressive, environmental organization that pulls no punches and speaks sometimes uncomfortable truth to power. We campaign at the nexus of environmental protection, economic, social, and racial justice to fundamentally transform the way our country and the world value people and the environment. Our power comes from more than five decades of producing important victories that protect our planet and its people.

We have a dedicated core of staff, board members, members and volunteers that understand that championing a more healthy and just world requires pushing past our own comforts. We are a founding member and campaign in solidarity with Friends of the Earth International and our sister groups in more than 70 countries. Together we are working globally, nationally and at the grassroots level to solve some of the most urgent environmental and social justice issues.